According to Inspection Conclusion No. 1046/KL-TTr dated December 26, 2024, issued by the Provincial Inspectorate, inspections at 15 mining sites in the province revealed several shortcomings in mining activities and management. Specifically, four out of 15 sites had not fully built facilities for exploitation as required by approved mine designs; one site had not carried out inventory and stockpile statistics as required by Circular No.17/2020/TT-BTNMT. In addition, five sites lacked adequate information on current status maps and cross-sections; five sites had stepped mining that did not conform to design; and six sites had yet to install weighing stations and surveillance cameras as required by Decree No.158/2016/NĐ-CP.

Faced with these shortcomings, the provincial Inspectorate and specialized agencies required immediate corrections. To date, most enterprises have basically completed necessary conditions, added technical infrastructure, and complied with legal regulations. This marks an important step toward ensuring transparent and sustainable mineral exploitation while improving state management in the sector.

The Inspectorate’s assessment showed that during 2021-2023, mineral exploitation at Quarry No.1 in Na Sang commune (formerly Mường Chà township, Mường Chà district) revealed shortcomings. The enterprise had not built sufficient facilities according to the approved design, mining steps were not carried out in line with the plan, and neither a weighing station at the extraction point nor surveillance cameras at storage facilities had been installed, in violation of Clause 2, Article 42 of Decree 158/2016/NĐ-CP.

Acknowledging these shortcomings, the mining unit promptly implemented corrective measures. By now, all technical infrastructure has been completed, stepped mining has been conducted according to the approved design, and both weighing stations and camera systems have been installed and are operating stably. Meeting all conditions in accordance with regulations has not only ensured legal and safe mining but also enhanced the efficiency of local mineral resource management.

For nearly a year, mineral exploitation by Duyên Hùng Co., Ltd. in Hamlet 2, Thanh Nưa commune (formerly Thanh Yên commune, Điện Biên district) has gradually stabilized. After initial difficulties, the company focused on overcoming shortcomings, especially on environmental restoration, ensuring that production goes hand in hand with sustainable development. In 2023, the company conducted exploitation before completing land lease procedures, an error that led to an administrative fine of VND 175 million and contract violation compensation of VND 200 million.

According to Lưu Công Ruyên, Director of Duyên Hùng Co., Ltd., this was a serious lesson: complacency caused both economic losses and damage to the company’s reputation. Afterward, the company thoroughly reviewed its processes, completed all legal procedures, and ensured compliance. By the end of November 2024, the company had officially completed land lease procedures and received approval to resume operations. Since then, it has strictly followed mining regulations and allocated resources to environmental restoration in exploited areas. These efforts have reduced negative environmental impacts and built trust with local authorities and residents.

Điện Biên, a mountainous province in the Northwestern region, has many small, narrow rivers and streams with limited reserves of sand and gravel. At the same time, licensing requirements for sand, gravel, and other minerals are complex, involving multiple procedures. Moreover, some operators have not strictly complied with legal regulations during exploitation. In this context, functional agencies have strengthened inspections and supervision while urging operators to remedy shortcomings, aiming for transparent, lawful, and more sustainable mining.

According to Nguyễn Thành Trung, Head of the Environmental and Mineral Management Division under the Department of Agriculture and Environment, based on the provincial inspectorate’s conclusions, most units and enterprises have basically corrected the identified shortcomings. In the coming period, his division will step up coordination with departments, sectors, and localities to closely monitor mining operations, accelerate licensing procedures for sand, soil, and rock mines already included in the plan, and review and address administrative bottlenecks for licensed mines that have not yet commenced operations.

In the three years from 2021 to 2023, nearly VND 65.4 billion was contributed to the state budget from resource tax, environmental protection fees, corporate income tax, value-added tax, and other obligations. Environmental rehabilitation deposits amounted to over VND 2.1 billion, while mineral exploitation rights fees contributed more than VND 25.3 billion. The former Department of Natural Resources and Environment Inspectorate carried out four inspections, detecting and handling violations with total fines exceeding VND 520 million.

Timely corrections of shortcomings in mineral exploitation for common construction materials demonstrate the efforts and responsibility of both enterprises and state management agencies in the province. When mining activities meet all legal requirements, they not only minimize environmental impacts but also provide a stable supply of construction materials, serving infrastructure development and promoting the province’s socio-economic growth.